Hat block



Oct. 11, 1927. ,9

R. A. BREDOW HAT BLOCK 7 Filed April 26, 1 926 I N V EN TOR. f0 h/z5/340/16 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES ROBERT A. BREDOW, 01? L08 ANGELE$, CALIFORNIA.

HAT BLOCK.

Application filed April 26, 1926.

The present invention relates to hat blocks, such as those used inblocking hats, hat forms and the like, and the invention is applicableto hat blocks heated electrically or otherwise and used in connectionwith manual locking means or hat blocking machines.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a manually operatedhat block adapted to be used in connection with a suitable heatingelement, such as an electric heating element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedhat block whichmay be used in connection with hat blocking machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat block adapted formanual operations, apart from a machine, which will increase the speedof production and render the operations more eflicient and expedlent.

Still other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in which2- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a view in bottom elevation of a part hereinafter known asthe block.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, with the blockremoved.

Figure 4; is a vertical section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1,showing material formed about the block in the final stage of blocking ahat.

The various purposes for which a hat block is used; such for instance as.shaping buckram forms, forming, pressing, cleaning and blocking hats,are well understood and need no description herein.

The following specification relates to the construction of the saidembodiment and the salient. features of my invention, which provide formore rapid and eflicient use of such hat blocks.

More specifically, 8 indicates the part hereinafter known as the hatblock, and consisting, in this embodiment, of a hollow dome shaped blockopen at the bottom, as at 9. The bottom of the block is provided with ahorizontal annular flange 10, provided with slots or openings 11,breaking into said flange.

The base is indicated by the numeral 12 and may form a part of acomplete hat blocking machine (not shown), or may be adapted to besecured to a table or like article 14-, by

Serial No. 104,725.

means of the legs and feet 15 and 16, respectively, and screws 17. Inconformity with a salient feature of my invention, said base includes anupper integral horizontal plate 19. provided with a central opening 18through which a heating element 20 projects, so that the heating elementstands above the plate and projects into the hollow space 21, on.-closed by the block 8. The heating element is preferably of uprightcylindrical form of the luminous type, such as are used'in elec tricglow heaters. Such form and disposition of heating elementprovide forsending the heat by radiation, principally, to all inside surfaces ofthe block equally.

The top of the auxiliary base is formed with a plate 19 similar to thetop of the base. Said plate is provided with a central aperture 18through which the heating element 20 projects. The bottom of theauxiliary base is provided with a horizontal annular flange 10, similarto the flange of the bottom of the block.

Both the plates 19 and 19 are provided with a vertical circularlydescribed interrupted rim 22 and 22*, respectively, so arranged that theinside margins 23, of a flange, such as 10 or 10, will be guided thereby in a circular motion. Both vertical rims include radially projectingmembers 24 and 24, respectively, conforming in size and spacing to theslots 11, and each projecting member is arranged to extend over thecorresponding one of flanges 10 or 10*, to hold the members in assembly,as shown in-the cross section.

To attach the auxiliary base to the lower base, the slots in the flangeof the auxiliary base are aligned with the projections on the lowerbase. The auxiliarybase is lowered over the lower base until the flangeof the auxiliary base rides on the plate of the lower base. Subsequentlythe auxiliary base is revolved a few degrees on the lower base until themajor axis of the auxiliary base is aligned with the major axis of thelower base. WVhen so turned, the auxiliary base cannot be lifted ordislodged from the lower base until one is turned relative to the otherto bring the slots into registration again with the correspondingprojections. a

The block proper is adapted to be connected with the auxiliary base inthe same manner as the auxiliary base is connected with the lower base.Therefore, the block may be attached directly to the lower base in caseoccasion arises where the auxiliary while the string groove 26 comesimmediately below the edge l Vhen the heating element is energized, theblock and the lower base, if the latter is employed, are thoroughlyheated by radiation from the heating element. In shaping the-material,such as 29, over theblock, said material may be secured by a string 30,

which draws the material quite taut over the block. The string may beplaced in either groove. In the case of some ma terials it is advisableto allow the shape to dry while it is in place over the block. This maybe done by removing the block and'auxiliary base jointly from the lowerbase while said block and auxiliary base are connected to each other. Byinverting the removed assembly the atmospheric air has access to theinterior of the block and same will cool rapidly. In other cases it maybe advisable to leave the assembly in place upon the base, butordinarily the retained heat ofthe removed assembly will provide forouring the material even after such assembly is removed. When thematerial vis properly dried, the auxiliary base is removed from theblock, and the string, without means to hold it in place, automaticallyslides from the block anddoes not need to be untied or removed by hand.By using the auxiliary block gives a defined lower margin 32 to theshaped material, so that the excess material therebelow may beaccurately removed. Obviously, the string may be placed in the lowergroove in the case of making a deeper hat or form, in which case removalof the auxiliary base will result in automatic dislodgment of thestring. In cases where the device is needed only occasionally, theauxii'iary base is not needed; the lower block machine, it is proposedto attach the block and a lower base to each other and employ theauxiliary base for holding the string in place after the assembly ofauxiliary base and block is removedirom the lower base. Other obviousvcombination uses and other advantages of the arrangement of parts shownwill suggest themselves to the minds of those skilled in the art. I

It will be apparent now that I have provided an eiiiciently heatedelectric hat block, which in'the case of hand work or machine work willspeed up the production of blocked hats, forms and the like, and whichprovides for allowing a hat or shapeto dry while tied to the hat blockwhile the base and heating' element are being used in conjunction withanother block and auxiliary base.

lVhile I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,I do not limit myself to any specific construction, embodiments, orarrangement of parts, and I may alter same as I desire or as occasiondemands, andI may use any construction or arrangement of parts comingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. In a hat blocking device, a lower base, an auxiliary base detachablyconnected to said lower base, and a hat block detachably secured toand'above said auxiliary base; the complete device providing two annularstring grooves; one string groove being at the juncture of said blockand auxiliary base andfthe other string groove being at the juncture ofsaid auxiliary base and said base.

2. In a hat blOCklIlg device, a lower base, an auxiliary base detachablyconnected to said lower base, and a hat block detachably secured to'andabove said auxiliary base; the complete device providing two annularstring grooves; one string groove being at the juncture of said blockand auxiliary base and the other string groove being at the juncture ofsaid auxiliary base and said base; those portions of said block,auxiliary base and-lower base, respectively, which are adjacent thestring grooves, being of the same cross section. i f i p ROBERT A. BREDOVV.

